BT Sport have confirmed viewers will be able to watch Premier League fixtures with artificial crowd noises when the season restarts in a matter of weeks.
According to the Mail: ‘The broadcaster will offer fans the option over the red button – and the atmosphere will be used in an attempt to liven up the audiovisual spectacle of behind closed doors games. ‘
Watford‘s clash with Leicester on June 20 will kick off BT Sport’s coverage of the top-flight resumption.
The Premier League’s broadcast advisory group came up with a host of ways to liven up the atmosphere at games without spectators, which were put to all 20 clubs on Thursday.
A request for an audio feed from both dugouts was rejected, but a soundtrack of the referee’s coin toss pre-match will be available for broadcasters to air.
Music will also be played in matches, at the home side’s discretion – and is likely to be used at kick-off, goals from the home team and during substitutions for the hosts. Half-time and full-time may also be accompanied by music.
Sky Sports and BT Sport’s requests for half-time interviews and dressing rooms cameras were rejected.
ClaretandHugh says Artificial sound effects for an artificial end to a season which many believe should have been killed off in March once and for all.As clubs and the PL hunt around for ways to pretend this is football as we know it – or as close to it was we are gonna get -most of us perhaps are more concerned with simply seeing the team put in 100 per cent and get themselves clear of the bottom three sharpish crowd effects or not. I for one won’t be using the red button as there can never be a substitute for reality.Maybe, given we are now all living in a virtual world we should just accept this situation. But the sound of artificial crowd roaring at a time when people are still dying or being infected isn’t something I wasn’t to listen to . The sooner this facade is over the better and broadcasters may again be out of tune with the nation who, whilst pleased to be watching sport again, are in the main probably preoccupied with much more important matters like staying alive.